Upholstering-machine.



C. HULGEN'r UPHOLSTERING MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN FILED 1AN.19.1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Non 20, HV1?,

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C. HULTGREN. UPHoLsTERlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IMI. I9. 1917.

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` Pmbente Nov. Q, MII?.

C. HULTGREN.

UPHOLSTERING MACHINE.

'APPLICATloN FILED 1AN.I9,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

c c. HULTGREN.,

UPHOLSTERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19| |917.-

Patented Nov, 20, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. mf m CHARLES HULTGREN, OFCI-IICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO S.KARPEI\T 85 BROS., A

' CORPORATION 0F WEST VIRGINIA.

UPI-IOLSTERINGr-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2t, ilul.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES HULTGREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot Illinois, have invented a new and useful Upholstering-Machine, of which th e following is a specification. 1 v l This invention relates to improvements in upholstering machines of the class intended and adapted for feeding the stuffing i or filling into the case or cover of the up-` holstry.

The principal objects of the invention are to produce a simple and effective machine for the purpose mentioned, but which is not only capable ot' accomplishing theusual results of facilitating the introduction of the stutling or filling into the case or coveigbut which is readily adjustedso as to operate in connection with varioussizes of stuilings or fillings, and which is especially adapted tor operation upon and to prepare for introduction into the upholstering case or cover' that class ot' stuiiing or filling comprehending an internal coiled-spring construction, particularly -of that type of coiled-spring construction made in accord ance with the patents to J ames Marshall, No. 585,160, and No. 698,529, and others of this type, and wherein. it is usual and customary to surround the spring-construction thus formed wit-h one or more layers of soft material, such, iior instance, as cotton batting, and which, when located between the spring-construction and the case or cover of the upholstery, forms a. soi't interposed lining, rendering the completed article more comfortable as well as increasing its durability. j

Various other objects, of more or less importance, will hereinafter appear, andthe invention consists in various features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly appearing in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an upholstering apparatus or machine typifying my invention, the same being shown in operation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, while `sprocketswheel 16,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on the line lof Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar transverse vertical section on the line 5 5 of F ig. 1;

Fig. 6 is al horizontal section on the line 5 6 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of the follower. I

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.

In produc-ing the machine or apparatus, I employ a suitable stable frame-work or base-structure, for example, as in the present instance, wherein there is comprised the pair of front and rear vertical uprights or posts 1 and 2, respectively, connected in pairs by upper and lower cross-sills 3 and el., respectively, and upper and lower side-sills 5 and 6, respectively.

The two upper side-sills 5 support the outer edges of a longitudinally disposed horizontal feed-table 7, surmounted by vertical sides 8, relatively adjustable by some convenient means. In this instance, angular standards 9, are bolted to the sides 8, the lower horizontal portion of each standard being slotted, as shown, to receive ordinary adjustingabolts 10, provided with clampingnuts. Through these mediums the sides 8 may be relatively adjusted to and from each other whereby the feed-table will be adapt- Ved to accommodate stuilings or fillings ot various widths.

The feed-table 7 is preferably formed of two similar companion sections, each supported at its inner edge by a supplemental sill `11, extending rearwardly beyond the `trame, and these sections being spaced apart, produce, at their inner edges, an intermediate, longitudinally disposed, narrow channel 12. A metal strip 1,3,fforms the bottom of this channel.

Journaled in transversely alining bearings in thevsills 11 and 5, near the front of the frame, is a feed-shaft 15, carrying a running in the channel l2. A similar sprocket-wheel 18, runs in the rear end of the channel 12, and is `mounted on a shaft 17, 4journaled in the rear ends of the sills 11.

longitudinally disposed 55 sleeves and rod in adjusted position in a Adapted to travel continuously in the channel 12 and supported by the metal bottom-plate 13 thereof, and engaging theV f thereof, and, like said table, is preferably composed of two longitudinally disposedV Y companion sections 22, each-secured to the underside of a pair of similarly disposed supporting-bars 23. Each of these sections,

through the medium of its bars 23, is pivotally supported on a rear cross-rod 24, theV ends of which enter vertical slots 25, formed in the rear posts 2 above the feed-table. These posts are further provided with vertically disposed cross-slots 27, and in each of the latter is mounted a bored and thread-V led block 26. In suitable cavities formed inV the sides of these blocks rest the extremities of the cross-rod Q4, and the threaded bores of the blocks are engaged by vertical adjusting-rods 28, the lower ends of the latter being threaded for the purpose. At the upper end of each of the adjusting-rods 28 is llocateda beveled pinion 29, and these operate in mesh with corresponding pinions 30, located on a transverse operating shaft 31,

journaled in the upper ends of the posts 2,

and carrying at one end an operative means, in this instance a hand-wheel 32.' j

The sections composing the clamp 21, it will be understood, are at their rear ends, free to move laterally on the rod 24, and any convenient means may be employed for retaining them when once adjusted to accord with the space between the sides 8 of the feed-table, as, for instance, the means illustrated. For this purpose, I may employ a pair of transversely alining companion sleeves 32, mounting one upon each pair of the bars 23. In these sleeves may be located an adjusting-rod 33, threaded and carrying nuts 34, at opposite sides of each of the sleeves. The nuts merely coact to retain the manner that will at once-be obvious.

\ A hollow vertical guide 35, may be secured to each of the posts 2, and above said guides may be located sheaves or pulleys 36,

AHwhile within each guide may be suspended by--a cable 37, a counterbalancing-weight 38.

The cables mentioned pass over the sheaves *or pulleys, have theirrear ends made fast to the counterbalarming-weights, and their At some suitable interme-r justing-blocks Y These blocks are bored and threaded vertifront ends connected to the clamp 21, at some point near the free front end ofthe latter, in the presentinstance, the sleeves 32 being the points of connection. It will be understood that the combined weightof the two counterbalancing-weights 38'about equal the weight Aof the clamp, so that the latter may be readily raised and lowered'.

At the front of discharge-end of the feedtable, and forming a continuation thereof, is a discharge-chute 39, designed to receive the unclosed .endof the upholsteringv cover 40 (see dotted lines Fig. 1.)` This chute is rectangular in cross-sectionand operates to hold the upholstering cover during` the process of insertingthe stuffing or filling, as is usual in apparatuses of thischaracter. Carrying out the idea of making the present machine adjustable for upholstry of various sizes, it becomesnecessary 'to employ a chute having the `same characteristics, and this I accomplish by constructing the same of four right-angularl sections of sheetmetal, 41. v These four angular sections being assembled in such manner that each of the Vupper sections overlaps its companion, and likewise with the lower sections, and at their sides the upper sections and lower sec-i tions also overlap, it willbe seen the chute as a whole is capable of adjustment both vertically and horizontally, and is thus capable of being adjusted in accordance with the feed-table and its auxiliaries, by Vwhich is meantthe sidesS and the clamp 21, so as to adapt it to receive upholstering covers of various dimensions. f

Each of the sections 41, of which the chute is composed, has'a. rear angularly disposed? flange 42,*the flanges of the upper pair of sections being upwardly disposed-'and those ofthe lower sections being reversely or downwardly disposed.

and those of the lower sections engaging the upper front cross-sill 3, and therefore being stationary with the feed-table, whileV those of the upper sections engage a. superimposed vertically adjustable cross-bar 43.v This cross-bar 43 is, by means of adjustingbolts 44, passing through the ends of the same and into vertical slots 45, formed for this purpose in the 4fr ont vertical posts 1, and through and beyond into vertical ad- 46, adjustable vertically.

cally and in such are threaded-the lower ends of vertical adjusting-rods 47, (see detail Fig. 6.) The upper ends of the adjustingrods 47, each carries af beveled pinion 4S, which mesh with and are driven by companion pinions 49, fixed upon a transverse operating shaft 50, journaled in the upper ends of the two front posts l. For convenience of operation the end of this operating-shaft may be provided with a 1hand- I The flanges 42- of each transverse pan-.of sections 41 overlap,

'wheel 5l; The adjusting-bar 43, may be longitudinally slotted, as at 52, and through the medium of adj Listing-bolts 53, provided with suitable wing-nuts, and located in the slot, and passed through openings in the anges 42' of the upper sections 4l of the chute, lateral relative adjustment ofl the chute is provided for;

It will, of course, be understood, that the.

apparatus described and illustrated may be operated in any desired manner. In the present instance, I have shown a conventional type `of electric motor 5ft, for this purpose, the same being shown conveniently mounted on a base 55, supported on the lower side-sills 6. An intermediate shaft 5G, is journaled in bearings 57, also located on the sills G, in advance of the motor, and upon this shaftmounted to rotate therewith, is al small spur-gear 58, and a drivepulley 59, the latter being connected to the drive-pulley 60, ofthe motor, by a belt G1.

62 designates the clutch-shaft, journale-l Y in advance of and slightly above the shaft 56, and at the front of the frame-work of the apparatus. At the outer end of this shaft is mounted to rotate therewith, a small spur-gear 63, and at an intermediate point, there is loosely mounted on the shaft,

a spur-gear 64, the hub of which forms one member of an ordinary friction-clutch companion member of the clutch, so' that, as

will be evident, by a depression of the treadle by the foot of the operator, the lever (36 will be vilo ated to the right, the clutch thrown to operative position, and the shaft 62 rotated together with the spur-gear 63 carried thereby. lVhen the foot of the operator is removed, a retractingl coiled-spring 73, connected at one end to the rocking-link 69 and at its other end to the adjacent post l, serves to disconnect the clutch, so that the gear (Sil runs idle. The shaft 15, carrying the front sprocket-wheel 16, extends beyond one of ils bearings, and carries a large spur-gear 7l, which meshes with and is driven by the small spur-gear 6 3, of the shaft G2, when said latter shaft is rotated, and in this manner is motion transmitted from the motor 54, or other source of energy, to the driving sprocket 16, and hence to the feed sprocketchain of the apparatus.

75 designates a clamping-bar, located between the two front posts l, and extending rearwardly so as to overlap and vbear upon the free end ofthe clamp 2l'. This clamping-bar is supported at its opposite ends at the upper ends of a pair of vertical drawrods 76, the lower ends of which may be `laterally disposed, as at 77, and connected loosely to a pair ofopposite levers 7 8, each of which is mounted. at its rear end upon a transverse rod 79, situated under the sills "3. A coiled-spring 80, connected to one of these levers 7S, at one end, and at its upper opposite end to the adjacent post l, serves to normally elevate the levers, and, consequently the clamping-bar. The companion lever is provided at its free end with a footpedal Sl, by which rod 79 .may be rocked against the tension of the spring SO. )t locking-pawl 82, is pivoted, as at 83, to the lever 78 carrying the pedal, and is designed to automatically engage with a rack-bar 8%-, fixed to the adjacent post l. It will be evident that a depression of the. treadle 8l will, through the medium of the d raw-rods clamp the clamping-bar down upon the free end ofthe clamp 21, and in this `position the parts will become .locked through the medium `of the locking-pawl and rack-bar just described. By releasing the pawl from its engagement with the rack-bar, the spring S() will relevate the clamping-bar out of its clamping position upon the clamp, so that the latter may bc elevated to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. l'.

Referring more particularly to Fig. '7, l have illustrated a convenient form of follower well adapted to coact with the feedboard and feed sprocket-chain heretofore described. This follower consists of a crosshead 85, designed to rest transversely upon the surface of the feed-table, and an angular shank SG, the front upturned end of the shank beingl secured, as at 87, to the rear face of the cross-head. tits rear, the shank may be downwardly bent to form a hook Se, designed to removably engage with the lin l-:s of the feed sprocket-chain 19. llt will be evident that followers having various widths of heads S5, may be provided, so that thev width of the follower will coincide to some degree, at least, with the width of the upl'iolstering being formed, and, therefore, with the width of the feed-table as adjusted.

lf desired, also, the space between the sections 22, composing the swinging clamp, may be covered by a metal plate 89, the same being attached to the underside of one of the said sections 22 and slidably overlapping the corresponding side of the companion see:- tion. (See Fig. 5.)

vWhere the lengths of sections or fillings permit, aI series of them may be prepared at the rear end of the apparatus, the sections being pushed forward in the feed of the machine as they are prepared for introduction into the upholstery covers through the discharge-chute at the front. To prevent buckling of the sections, the surface of the feedtable maybe waxed, and in order that each sectiony may move squarely along by presof the series, the down turned end of the shank of the follower being engaged with a convenient link of the sprocket-chain 19. The machine is then started, and by introducing the upholster covers successively at Athe fro-nt end of the discharge-chute, each has discharged or directed therein a filling, after which it only remains to close the end of the cover in the usual manner. It will be understood, of course, that previous to starting the machine, the clamp Qlis lowered upon the fillings, and the clamping-bar drawn down reasonably tight upon the free end of the clamp, the bar being capable of a slight swinging movement, forward and back, suflicient to permit the clamp to be raised and lowered. The fillings, especially those of the spring construction heretofore referred to, are wrapped in one or more layers of cotton batting, the latter surrounding the bottom, top, ends and sides, and such may be accomplished in the feed-trough of the machine. In this preparation it is simply necessary to lay cotton-batting in sufhcient thickness and proportions in the bottom of the trough, leaving the ends of the length of batting over ,the sides, place the upholstei filling thereon, apply a top and end-layers, insert a filling or separating board 89, and move the filling thus prepared along a suiiicient distance to permit of the preparation of the next filling, this Aoperation being continued until the feed-table is full, after which the follower is placed in position, the clamp lowered and locked in position, and the machine started and continued in operation until the supply of fillings have becoine exhausted.- Of course, where the upholstering to be formed is long, only one filling may be accommodated in the machine, in which case the spacingboards will not be used, but simply the follower.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is:

- i 1. In an apparatus of the class described,

to fit Vbetween the sides of the feed-table,

means for pivoting the rear en d of the clamp to the rear Vend of 'the frame-work above the table, means for simultaneously adjusting the pivots of said clamp,a clamping-bar arthe clamp at the free end of the latter, drawrods connected to the clamping-bar, levers pivoted to the frame-work and to the lower ends of the draw-rods, and means for locking said levers when depressed. i

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a frame-work, a feed;

table having .opposite sides located therein, a feed-chain located in the table, and "means for operatingthe chain, of a pivoted clamp adapted to-fit within the space between the sides of the feed-table, links pivoted at their rear ends at opposite sides, of the front of the fraine-work, one of said links having a foot-treadle, verticallydisposed.` rods pivoted at their lower endsto thefree front ends of the links, a transverse clamp-bar connected at the upper ends of the rods and adapted to `ranged transverse the feed-table and above overlap and secure the frontend of the clamp, a pawl carried bv oneof the links, a rack-bar adjacent to andadapted to be engaged by the pawl whereby to lock said rods in a depressed position, and a vreturn spring for elevating said rods when released from the influence of the pawl. v

3. In an apparatusof theclass described, the combination with a feed-table formed in longitudinal sectionsthe adjacent edges of which are spacedapart to form an intermediate channel, of a metal plate connected to the undersides of one of the sections and overlapping the other sol as to forni a smooth bottom for the channel, a feed-chain located in the channel and supported-by the metal plate thereof, and means. for operating the chain.

Il. In an` apparatus of the class described, the combination with a feed-table, an endless feed-chain located therein, and means for operating the latter, of relatively adjustable sides carried by the table, a superimposed .clamp longitudinally divided to form sections adapted to, fit between the, sides, means for adjusting the sections laterally with relation to each other, and a metal plate secured in a stationary manner tooneof the sections on its underside, extending across the opening between the sections, and overlapping and free t0 slide upon the underside of the opposite section to 'which it is secured.

j 5. In an apparatusof the class described, the combination` with the frame-work com prising a pair of front vertical postsprovided with vertical slots, bearing-blocks mounted in the slots, threadedishafts vjournaled in the posts and in the blocks, beveled gears at the upper ends of the shafts, 1a transverse operating-shaft journaled in the vposts and provided with operating means,

and beveled gears carried `by said operating-shaft and meshing with those of the vertical shafts, n of an upper transverse connected to the bearing-blocks, a lower transverse bar fixed upon the posts, upper and lower pairs of right-angular sheet-metal sections flanged at their rear ends and re spectvely secured to the upper movable and lower fixed transverse bars, the meeting edges of said angular sections sldably overlapping, and a transversely and vertically adjustable feed leading to said angular sections and communicating with the disehargelo chute formed thereby.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing` witnesses.

CHARLES HULTGREN.

Witnesses FRANK J. MAToUsEK, E. MCCANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o' Patente, Washington, D. C. 

